It makes sense. Resources are scarce. There are then more reasons for combat players to have a use whilst protecting non-such characters. Eventually you'll be travelling to try and trade for what you can't find. A lot of dynamic gameplay can come from deplete-able junk piles, assuming the lag disappears within a few weeks.
Not to mention there is already more junk around. I bet there's a lot of junk that no one has even found yet....